Tigers vs Brewers: Tarik Skubal heats up as Detroit eyes series win in finale

The Detroit Tigers will look to clinch the series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon, riding the red-hot form of left-hander Tarik Skubal.

Skubal enters the finale in strong rhythm after striking out a season-high 10 batters in his last outing against the Boston Red Sox. Despite cold conditions, he limited Boston to just one run over six innings, continuing an impressive run where he has allowed only one run in four of his five starts this season. Carrying a 3-2 record with a 2.08 ERA, Skubal has quietly become one of Detroit’s most reliable arms early in the campaign.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch praised Skubal’s composure, noting his ability to stay mentally locked in and win key at-bats even when not at his sharpest. A more effective change-up in his last start played a big role in boosting his strikeout numbers, though the left-hander believes there is still room to sharpen his execution.

Skubal also brings a strong track record into the matchup, having dominated the Brewers in previous meetings by allowing just one run across 13 2-3 innings while striking out 19 batters.

Milwaukee will counter with right-hander Brandon Sproat, who is still chasing his first major league win. Sproat is coming off his best outing of the season after holding the Toronto Blue Jays to one run over 6 2-3 innings in a narrow victory. The 25-year-old credited his improved rhythm and aggressive approach for the performance, boosted further by encouragement from manager Pat Murphy.

The three-game series is currently level, with Detroit rebounding from a heavy loss to claim a 5-2 win on Wednesday. First baseman Spencer Torkelson also found form, hitting his first home run of the season after a 31-homer campaign last year.

With favorable weather expected and momentum on their side, the Tigers will rely on Skubal’s form to seal the series, while the Brewers hope Sproat can build on his confidence and deliver a breakthrough performance.